EDF and the UK Government have signed the outline terms of a CfD that would enable the life extension of Sizewell B to 2055, helping to secure reliable, low-carbon electricity and support around 900 jobs for longer.

Since entering service in 1995, Sizewell B has produced more than 270 terawatt hours (TWh) of low-carbon power — enough to meet the needs of every household in Suffolk and Norfolk for over a century — and had been scheduled to stop generating in 2035. Under the Heads of Terms, EDF plans to fund a major refurbishment during planned outages over the next fifteen years, at an estimated cost of about £800 million.

The proposal covers 2035 to 2055 with a strike price of £70.50/MWh (in 2025 prices). As a baseload plant available 24/7 in all weather, extending Sizewell B’s life is presented as a cost‑effective way to bolster the UK’s sovereign clean energy supply. The Government and EDF expect to finalise the CfD later this year.

-- Advertisement --

EDF UK CEO Simone Rossi said: "Global events demonstrate time and again how vital it is for the UK to secure long term, low-carbon, homegrown electricity which protects British households and businesses from market volatility. Extending the life of the plants we already have alongside building new ones is central to EDF's strategy."

Sizewell B is the UK's only pressurised water reactor. It generates on average around 9 TWh a year and, since start‑up, has contributed over £15 billion in economic value. Approximately 900 people work at the site, which pays about £50 million in salaries annually.

Life‑extension works will be delivered during the station’s routine outages, which occur every 18 months, allowing critical tasks to proceed while minimising downtime. The additional 20 years of operation could enable roughly 180 TWh of further generation.

Planned investments include a new environmental monitoring system similar to that being installed at Hinkley Point C, new automated plant monitoring systems, and the replacement of pipework, valves and pumps across the site, alongside continued detailed technical analysis and inspections to sustain efficient operations through to 2055.